Travel Blog 43
40 Days in Arizona
Page - Show Low
Camp Verde - Tucson
Travel Blog 43
Although the Mogollon Rim extends approximately 200 miles, the most active area seems to be around the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center 30 miles
east of Payson Arizona. Here you will find Rim Road and Old Rim Road with an abundance of overviews, hiking trails, reasonable Primitive Campgrounds,
and marked Boondocking sites. Woods Canyon Lake is a publicly owned lake and is gorgeous! Personally owned boats are allowed but no gas motors are
permitted, only electric trolling motors. Pontoon boats, Canoes, Kayaks, and Paddle Boards are all available for rental. Willow Springs Lake, which
I did not visit is also nearby. There are hiking trails throughout the area including the Mogollon Rim Interpretive Trail and the Rim Lakes Vista Trail
which is is a popular spot for watching sunsets. A visit to the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center is well worth a trip from Payson, or in my case, a 57
mile drive from Encore Venture In in Show Low.
Website
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
Woods Canyon Lake
Woods Canyon Lake
Woods Canyon Lake
Woods Canyon Lake
Pinedale Covered Bridge
At the base of Mt. Lemmon at the northeast edge of Tucson, Arizona, begins the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Drive; a 27 mile winding road with 7,000 feet in elevation change.
At the summit is the small tourist town of Summerhaven and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley with a few slops, three ski lifts, and a Sky Ride in the summer. There are restaurant
and tourist shops at each. There is a Lodge and Tiny Homes for rent in Summerhaven and several campgrounds on the mountain especially in the Paradise area. The real
treasure of this trip is the scenic drive with the complete change in vegetation and climate as you make your way up from the desert floor to 9,100 ft above sea level
at the top. There are countless viewpoints and trail-heads all along the road so you may want to give yourself several hours to see it all. If you're hiking, you may
want several days on the mountain. In either case, well worth your time!
Summerhaven
Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Dr
I blogged the Saguaro National Park in Nov 2022 on the west side with the Red Hills Visitor Center. I intended to see the Rincon Mountain
District (east) this year but the Visitor Center was shut down in Oct 2025 for a 1-year renovation project. Unfortunately, they also decided
to close the entrance to the 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive, maybe because this was 2 days before the government shutdown ended, I don't know.
I decided to return to the Tucson Mountain District (west) after the shutdown ended and the Red Hills Visitor Center was staffed and open. The
National Park Service says the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center will reopen in the fall of 2026. I'll try again next year but for this year I had
a nice drive through the Saguaro National Park Tucson Mountain District.
Website
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park
This is my second trip to Verde Ranch RV Resort and this year I booked upgraded pull through site 059. Although these sites are a bit pricey, I have no regrets,
that's just how nice this place is. There are 389 sites and tons of amenities including Pickleball, Heated Pool, fantastic Dog Park, Splash Pad, Hot Tubs, Large
Clubhouse, Arcade, Business Center, Laundry Facility, Bathhouses, and more! There are many furnished tiny home cabins as well as Covered Wagons & Glamping Tents
for those wanting to enjoy the resort but do not have an RV. There are NO unsightly park models here! Camp Verde AZ is only 3,147 feet above sea level and I can
breath and move so much better here after spending the last 7 weeks in locations over a mile high. I paid $532.33 for the week which breaks down to $76.00 per
night for this upgraded site. The Winter monthly rates range from $900 and $1,385 depending on the site. There is a flat electrical charge of $125 per month. The summer
rates are a little less. I would love to return for a month next time. One of my favorites!
Website
Verde Ranch RV Site Map
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
Verde Ranch RV Resort
This is my second year spending 14 nights at Voyager RV Resort & Hotel in Tucson and it's still my favorite place. When my site
assignment was emailed to me I was assigned to the rear of the resort among mostly park models. I asked at check-in if I could stay
in the traveling RV section near the entrance and the nice folks at the front desk gladly moved me to a pull-through site in that preferred
area. Amazing! Sixty days prior when I booked, Thousand Trails told me there were no pull-through sites available. This, among many many
other reasons, is why I plan to drop Thousand Trails when my current year expires. I hope to return here next year and stay a month which
I think runs about $1,225. This is a super amenity rich resort with Pickle-ball Courts, Tennis Courts, indoor and outdoor Swimming Pools,
Billiards Room, Fitness Center, 9-Hole Golf Course/Pro Shop, Fat Willy's Clubhouse Bar & Grill, Market and Gift Shop, several Laundromats,
Card Rooms, Boccie Courts, Shuffleboard Courts, and much much more. I snapped a couple of photos at the San Xavier del Bac Mission, which
was completed in 1797, but it was under construction. I'll blog the mission when I return next year.
Voyager RV Resort Site Map
Voyager RV Site 50-106
Pickle-ball Courts
Voyager RV Resort
9-Hole Golf Course
Voyager RV Resort
Fat Willy's
Outdoor Pools
Indoor Pool
Outdoor Pools
Fitness Center
Tennis Courts
Voyager RV Resort
Boccie Courts
San Xavier del Bac Mission
San Xavier del Bac Mission
The Texas Hill Country, A First Look
I booked two weeks in the Texas Hill Country and fully intended to blog as much of the area as I could. I've never been here before but I knew
Fredericksburg is the unofficial center of the hill country so I made a point to drive over there from my campground in Junction TX. Unfortunately
due to flash floods, bad weather, 4 days of nonstop Football, and not being in the right location during my first week, I decided to plan a return trip next spring and do it right.
This will include staying in or very near Fredericksburg for at least one week. I did snap a few photos of Fredericksburg but I will return again and do it right!
Website
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
I booked 7 nights at Rio Bonito II Resort & RV Park in Liberty Hill, TX. There are 2 Rio Bonito parks here with Rio Bonito II being the nicest in my opinion.
The sites are all concrete with attractive landscaping between each site and throughout the resort. The resort is gated and seems very secure. The internal
roads are wide and easy to navigate. There is a nice laundry facility, a huge dog park, and a small pool with a hot tub. The guest I met were all very friendly
and mostly monthly or seasonal. The park is 5 miles or less from a wealth of restaurants and shopping with the largest H. E. B. Grocery store I've ever visited.
Located only 34 miles north of downtown Austin, I will certainly return to Rio Bonito again and grab a site on the monthly rate. Highly Recommended!
Website
Rio Bonito Resort II Site 65
Rio Bonito Resort II
Rio Bonito Resort II
Rio Bonito Resort II
Rio Bonito Resort II
Rio Bonito Resort II
I booked 7 nights at North Llano River RV Park for the first half of my stop in the Texas Hill Country. This is a no frills campground on the river
with large well spaced pull-through sites. It's less than a mile off Interstate 10 and I saw a great many folks stopping here as an overnight while
traveling I10. I overestimated this campground as a launch point for exploring the Hill Country. I did make a day trip to Fredericksburg which was
130 miles round trip. As for Junction TX, there's not much here. There is a Dollar General, a Family Dollar, and a Lowe's Market. There are several
non franchised restaurants and a few fast food joints but that's it. We had a flood warning one night where there was a possibility of needing to
evacuate. The staff did a great job keeping everyone informed and the river did not make it up to the RV sites. Perfect overnight campground when
traveling east or west on I10 but I can't quite call it a destination unless you're looking for complete peace and quite, and your fridge is fully loaded.
Website
N. Llano River RV Park
N. Llano River RV Park
N. Llano River RV Park
N. Llano River RV Park
N. Llano River RV Park
